Electrical apparatus for heating to a desired temperature for improved administration of pharmaceutically active compounds

• US 20030219470A1
• Filed: 12/04/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zars, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zars, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhang, Hao, Zhang, Jie
• Application Number:
  US10/310,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20030219470A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/449
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00187 insulating; warmth or cold applying
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00204 insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00906 for transcutaneous or transdermal drugs application
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0091 with disinfecting or anaesthetics means, e.g. anti-mycrobic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/032 using oxygen from the air, e.g. pocket-stoves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/034 Flameless
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4468 having a nitrogen directly attached in position 4, e.g. clebopride, fentanyl
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4535 containing a heterocyclic ring having sulfur as a ring hetero atom, e.g. pizotifen
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/7023 Transdermal patches and similar drug-containing composite devices, e.g. cataplasms galenical aspects of iontophoretic devices A61K9/0009; microneedle arrays A61K9/0021; buccal patches A61K9/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for improving administration of drugs through the use of heat and other physical means. The present invention relates to the use of heat and other physical means in conjunction with specially designed dermal drug delivery systems, conventional commercial dermal drug delivery systems, or drugs delivered into a sub-skin depot site via injection and other methods to alter, mainly increase, the drug release rate from the dermal drug delivery systems or the depot sites to accommodate certain clinical needs.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating the absorption of a pharmaceutical through human skin comprising the steps of:

administering a pharmaceutical through a portion of skin, and

placing an exothermic heating means proximate said portion of skin to increase the temperature on and around said portion of skin by heating to within a safe, pre-designed, narrow temperature range for a safe, pre-designed length of time, said exothermic heating means comprising a predetermined amount of iron powder and water disposed in a chamber.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said step of placing an exothermic heating means proximate said portion of skin increases the solubility of said pharmaceutical in said formulation to increase transdermal absorption of said pharmaceutical.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein said pharmaceutical is delivered by a dermal drug delivery system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of placing an exothermic heating means proximate said portion of skin boosts the absorption of said pharmaceutical from a dermal drug delivery system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of placing an exothermic heating means proximate said portion of skin increases the speed of release of said pharmaceutical from a dermal drug delivery system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said safe, pre-designed length of time is sufficient to cause an increase in the quantity of said pharmaceutical transported from the dermal drug delivery system into a targeted site in a patient'"'"'s body within the first four hours of heating.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said safe, pre-designed length of time is sufficient to cause less than about a 90% increase in the transport of an active ingredient from said pharmaceutical.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said heating said membrane increases the absorption of said pharmaceutical.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said skin and surrounding tissues are heated to a temperature range between about 37°

to 50°

centigrade.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical has a solubility that can be increased by increasing the temperature of said pharmaceutical to within a range of about 37°

to about 50°

centigrade.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical'"'"'s absorption into skin is limited by a rate limiting membrane in a dermal drug delivery system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of administering a pharmaceutical comprises applying a dermal drug delivery system on human skin to deliver said pharmaceutical to a storage site within the skin and surrounding tissues, for subsequent delivery of said pharmaceutical from the storage site into systemic circulation.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of administering said pharmaceutical comprises disposing said pharmaceutical within at least one storage site in a patient'"'"'s skin and said heating controls the speed transport of said pharmaceutical from said storage site.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said heating increases the temperature of storage sites.